Thomas Buttersworth (British, 1768-1828)The Bristol privateer Caesar, 20-guns, Captain Valentine Baker, under attack by a French frigate of 32-guns whilst escorting a convoy nearing home on 27th June 1782
a pair
both signed 'T.Buttersworth' (lower left); one bears an inscription on label affixed to stretcher
oil on canvas
each 53.4 x 88.9cm (21 x 35in). (2)注脚The American War of Independence (1776-83) saw many Bristol-owned vessels pressed into service as privateers after April 1777, one of which was the Caesar. An almost new ship-rigged sloop of 300 tons owned by Mr. Robert Gordon, she was employed on the Jamaica trade until May 1779 when she was fitted out as a privateer in Teast's Floating Dock at Wapping on the Thames. Her first cruise proved disappointing, but from July 1780, by which time she was owned by Messrs. Gresley, Blake & Co., she enjoyed numerous successes under various masters and achieved considerable celebrity in her home port. In October 1781, Captain Valentine Baker took over her command and, on 27th June 1782, whilst escorting a valuable homeward bound convoy from Jamaica, she was west of Lundy Island, in the Bristol Channel, when she was sighted and attacked by a 32-gun French frigate. Despite the disparity in the two ships' armament, Baker fought tenaciously and after a spirited fight forced the surrender of the Frenchman in what contemporaries described as "a hard won victory". Unfortunately, Caesar was so badly damaged in the action that the enemy frigate, although damaged herself, re-hoisted her colours and escaped. Notwithstanding losing her as a prize, Baker had saved the convoy from capture and later received a handsome silver vase from the Merchants and Insurers of Bristol "...for gallantly defending the Ship Caesar against a French Sloop of War greatly Superior in Force to his own Ship and beating her off...".

Another view of this action was painted by Nicholas Pocock and subsequently engraved.

Captain Valentine Baker was the grandfather of Sir Samuel White baker, the notable Victorian traveller and African explorer.